1882.] COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 83 



a superphosphate it would be quite impossible to tell leather from 

 blood by its appearance. 



By chemical tests, however, it is at present a simple matter to 

 detect the presence of leather in any fertilizer, and we hope that 

 it will not come largely into the Connecticut market without 

 making itself known at the Experiment Station. 



Mr. HiNMAN. I would like to ask the Doctor what there is 

 in wool that is so quick to operate as a fertilizer. I had 

 supposed it was nitrogen. Waste from the shoddy factories 

 is one of the quickest fertilizers tliat I know of in actual 

 practice ; one of the quickest and cheapest, and one "that will 

 raise about as much disturbance in the neighborhood in the 

 process of decomposition. If it is not nitrogen that decom- 

 poses so quickly and operate^ so speedily, I would like to 

 inquire what it is. 



Dr. Jenkins. I feel very cofifident that it is not the wool 

 itself, for wool is of much the same nature as hair, although 

 not as hard to decompose as hair. It must be some adherent 

 substance. 



Mr. HiNMAN. I mean what we call waste from a shoddy or 

 wool factory. In decomposition, it is similar to horn shav- 

 ings. Just about here horn shavings are used a great deal. 

 They also in decomposition raise a great deal of discomposure 

 in the neighborhood. They are also very similar in their 

 operation. I have used mure wool waste than horn shavings, 

 and have found it very beneficial indeed and very powerful. 



Dr. Jenkins. I have not heard before such a favorable ac- 

 count in regard to the action of wool waste, and it seems to 

 me there must be differences in its composition or in the 

 method of production. 



Mr. HiNMAN. There are probably some gentlemen in the 

 room who have used wool waste. There used to be a woolen 

 factory at Sandy Hook. Wherever I have seen it or beard 

 of it, it has always been with the same result, but it may 

 have been a little different article from that with which the 

 doctor is acquainted. I have used the waste from a factory 

 in my own neighborhood entirely ; I have never brought it 

 from any distance. That was always uniform in its results. 



